Monday, October 24, 2011

ODE TO A TRUCK, FROG PURSE AND SPICE TINS.

No one ever had a yard sale where everything sold. And, when you retire, there is no such thing as a day off. We fill up every day like there is no tomorrow, considering ourselves lucky that we can. I figured it out, a garage sale sounds profitable, but in terms of preparation, moving every thing at once, then dealing with the aftermath, it was not worth the work. At least not for me, living out on a rural road without the benefit of “walk in” traffic.
But the people who came were infinitely interesting. This customer had an unusual frog purse and I photographed her. She told me everyone makes a fuss over that purse and wants one, but she can’t remember the catalog she ordered it from, and it isn’t stamped with a company name.
I had one customer who insisted I should sell him my truck. He kept offering me a hundred dollars and the keys to his van. Then he’d up the amount of money. So, I tried to sell him an exercise machine for $2. (He looked like he needed one.) He claimed he was bored. He goes to garage and yard sales for something to do. I told him, throw out your television set and you won’t be bored.
The last I looked my truck was still there. It served as my desk, lunch table, and gathering spot for the neighbors who pulled up the lawn chairs and chatted. Late in the day, we broke out the chips and wine. Jim brought out his portable fire pit that kept us warm during the morning chill.
My daughter claims, you offer everything you didn’t sell free. We did that and got rid of a few items. One man gave me a donation for some free stuff. The donation came to more than I was originally charging for some old spice cans. Go figure?
Others sat and chatted with us, enjoying the yard regaled us with tales of their own yard sales. One woman drove away and said yes I want that file cabinet (it was a freebie) but not today. Will she come back? Was she serious? Only time will tell.
By the end of the day, Karen, Jan, Jim and I felt just like this-deserving a rest. The clean-up is still ahead of us.